Module SXL-2113:
Criminal Law
Module Facts
Run by School of History, Law and Social Sciences
20.000 Credits or 10.000 ECTS Credits
Semester 2
Organiser: Mr Cathal MacPartholan
Overall aims and purpose
This module provides an introduction to the substantive criminal law in Wales and England, and the wider contextual issues related to criminal law and justice. It examines general principles of criminal liability, fatal and non-fatal offences against the person, and selected offences against property. Students will also study defences and rules in relation to parties to crime, and will analyse contemporary developments in the area of criminal law.
Course content
The module content includes but is not limited to:
actus reus and mens rea; Negligence and Strict Liability; General Defences; Parties to Crime; Inchoate Offences; Homicide; Non-fatal Offences against the Person; Offences under the Theft Acts 1968 and 1978: Theft and Related Offences; Offences involving Deception; Further Offences under the Theft Act; Criminal Damage; Sexual Offences.
Assessment Criteria
good
B- to B+ (60% - 69%) A comprehensive answer, containing all the material relevant to the question and no irrelevancy, all the material and references being accurate and correct, there being no inaccuracy or error, the whole presented in an argument which, while clear, logical and critical, leaves room for improvement in its construction and presentation. An answer which shows complete competence in the subject.
excellent
A- to A* (70% +) An outstanding, possibly brilliant, answer, containing all the material relevant to the question and no irrelevancy, all the material and references being accurate and correct, there being no inaccuracy or error, the whole presented in a clear, logical, critical argument with little room for improvement. An answer which demonstrates a complete mastery of the subject.
threshold
D- to D+ (40-49%) An answer which, while predominantly correct in its presentation of material, contains a significant level of error and is therefore not entirely reliable.
C- to C+
C- to C+ (50-59%) An answer which, while always in the main accurate and correct, fails to distinguish between relevant and irrelevant material and is lacking in criticism. An answer which while reliable with regard to correctness is either not comprehensive or not entirely pertinent.
Learning outcomes
-
Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the functions of criminal law, giving examples of relevant offences, and to clarify the relationship between law and morality
-
Accurately explain how criminal liability is imposed for both acts and omissions, and demonstrate practical understanding of this through applying the knowledge to legal problems
-
Explain and differentiate between the various culpable states of mind
-
Distinguish between offences of basic and specific intent and correctly apply the distinction to a legal problem
-
Develop and effectively communicate logical legal arguments on aspects of criminal law
-
Critically analyse the general defences to criminal charges and their use in contemporary case law
Assessment Methods
Type | Name | Description | Weight |
---|---|---|---|
EXAM | Exam | Students answer two exam questions. |
60.00 |
COURSEWORK | Written assignment | Students write a 2,500 word essay on a set topic in criminal law. |
40.00 |
Teaching and Learning Strategy
Hours | ||
---|---|---|
Lecture | The module will be taught by means of 36 hours of lectures (2 hour lectures, twice weekly) taught over the course of one semester. |
36 |
Tutorial | 8x 1hour tutorials require students to engage individually and in groups in commenting upon, critically evaluating and applying the principles and details of the subject under the guidance and instruction of the tutor. Attendance and participation by all students is expected, as understanding is based upon one’s own development of ideas in context. |
8 |
Private study | Private study includes preparation for tutorials and summative assessments. |
156 |
Transferable skills
- Literacy - Proficiency in reading and writing through a variety of media
- Self-Management - Able to work unsupervised in an efficient, punctual and structured manner. To examine the outcomes of tasks and events, and judge levels of quality and importance
- Exploring - Able to investigate, research and consider alternatives
- Information retrieval - Able to access different and multiple sources of information
- Inter-personal - Able to question, actively listen, examine given answers and interact sentistevely with others
- Critical analysis & Problem Solving - Able to deconstruct and analyse problems or complex situations. To find solutions to problems through analyses and exploration of all possibilities using appropriate methods, rescources and creativity.
- Presentation - Able to clearly present information and explanations to an audience. Through the written or oral mode of communication accurately and concisely.
- Argument - Able to put forward, debate and justify an opinion or a course of action, with an individual or in a wider group setting
Subject specific skills
- Develop the ability to interpret legal rules and employ techniques of legal reasoning competently and efficiently in order to offer a range of solutions and conclusions to actual or hypothetical complex legal problems, all supported by relevant academic literature, jurisprudence and legislative research. Such solutions will be clearly communicated and presented
- Develop the ability to analyse complex legal issues, set against the background of the political, social, economic or cultural contexts in which they may arise
- Develop those skills which are necessary for scholarship and research in legal subjects, namely the ability to identify relevant primary and secondary legal sources and to retrieve accurate legal information using paper and electronic sources
Resources
Resource implications for students
Students are expected to have a copy of the key text.
Talis Reading list
http://readinglists.bangor.ac.uk/modules/sxl-2113.htmlReading list
The main textbook for this module is J. Herring, Criminal Law (11th ed), MacMillan
Pre- and Co-requisite Modules
Pre-requisite of:
Co-requisite of:
Courses including this module
Compulsory in courses:
- M115: LLB Law with English Literature (International Experience) year 2 (LLB/ILEL)
- M100: LLB Law year 2 (LLB/L)
- M11B: LLB Law (4 year with Incorporated Foundation) year 2 (LLB/L1)
- M1N4: LLB Law with Acc and Finance year 2 (LLB/LAF)
- M1NB: LLB Law with Accounting & Finance (4yr with Incorp Found) year 2 (LLB/LAF1)
- M101: LLB Law (2 year) year 2 (LLB/LAW2)
- M1N1: LLB Law with Business Studies year 2 (LLB/LBS)
- MN1B: LLB Law with Business (4year with Incorporated Foundation) year 2 (LLB/LBS1)
- MT12: LLB Law with Chinese (International Experience) year 2 (LLB/LCIE)
- M1W1: LLB Law with Creative Media Writing year 2 (LLB/LCMW)
- M1W2: LLB Law with Creative Media Writing (International Exp) year 2 (LLB/LCMWI)
- M116: LLB Law with French (European Experience) year 2 (LLB/LFE)
- M117: LLB Law with German (European Experience) year 2 (LLB/LGE)
- M1V1: LLB Law with History year 2 (LLB/LH)
- M1V2: LLB Law with History (International Experience) year 2 (LLB/LHI)
- M102: LLB Law (International Experience) year 2 (LLB/LI)
- M103: LLB Law with Accounting & Finance (Intl Exp) year 2 (LLB/LIA)
- M104: LLB Law with Business Studies (International Experience) year 2 (LLB/LIB)
- M108: LLB Law with Social Policy (International Experience) year 2 (LLB/LIF)
- M110: LLB Law with Welsh (International Experience) year 2 (LLB/LIH)
- M113: LLB Law with Criminology (Intl Exp) year 2 (LLB/LIK)
- M118: LLB Law with Italian (European Experience) year 2 (LLB/LITE)
- M1P1: LLB Law with Media Studies year 2 (LLB/LMS)
- M1P2: LLB Law with Media Studies (International Experience) year 2 (LLB/LMSI)
- M10P: LLB Law with Placement Year year 2 (LLB/LP)
- M1L2: LLB Law with Politics year 2 (LLB/LPOL)
- M1V5: LLB Law with Philosophy and Religion year 2 (LLB/LPR)
- M1C8: LLB Law with Psychology year 2 (LLB/LPSY)
- M119: LLB Law with Spanish (European Experience) year 2 (LLB/LSE)
- M1L4: LLB Law with Social Policy year 2 (LLB/LSP)
- M1LB: LLB Law with Social Policy (4 yr with Incorp Foundation) year 2 (LLB/LSP1)
- M1Q5: LLB Law with Welsh year 2 (LLB/LW)
- M1M9: LLB Law with Criminology year 2 (LLB/LWCR)
- M1MB: LLB Law with Criminology (4 yr with Incorporated Foundation) year 2 (LLB/LWCR1)
- M1MP: LLB Law with Criminology with Placement Year year 2 (LLB/LWCRP)
- M1QK: LLB Law with English Literature year 2 (LLB/LWEL)
- M1M0: LLB English Law and French Law year 2 (LLB/UKLFL)
Optional in courses:
- NM11: BA Business and Law year 2 (BA/BUSALAW)
- NM1B: BA Business and Law (4 year with Incorporated Foundation) year 2 (BA/BUSLAW1)
- M93B: BA Criminology & Criminal Just (4yr with Incorp Foundation) year 2 (BA/CCJ1)
- M931: BA Criminology & Criminal Justice with International Exp year 2 (BA/CJIE)
- M930: BA Criminology & Criminal Justice year 2 (BA/CRIM)
- M93P: BA Criminology and Criminal Justice with Placement Year year 2 (BA/CRIMP)